Control apparatus for providing vehicle and automobile navigation that incorporates information related to charging stations

Abstract

A control apparatus for a vehicle, is mounted on an automobile that has a motor for traveling and a power storage apparatus for exchanging electric power with the motor. The control apparatus is configured to execute external charging for charging the power storage apparatus by using electric power from an external power supply, and is configured to perform a route guidance for a planned travel route to a destination. When operation information on a charging spot of the destination is not obtainable and it is predicted that the charging spot of the destination is not usable, it is recommended to execute the external charging at a charging spot around the planned travel route.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A control apparatus for a vehicle, which is mounted on an automobile that has a motor for traveling and a power storage apparatus for exchanging electric power with the motor, comprising:
 an electronic control unit configured to execute external charging for charging the power storage apparatus by using electric power from an external power supply; and 
 a navigation apparatus configured to perform a route guidance of a planned travel route to a destination, 
 wherein, based on operation information on a charging spot of the destination not being obtainable, the navigation apparatus is configured to recommend executing external charging at a charging spot within a predetermined distance of the planned travel route, 
 wherein, based on the operation information on the charging spot of the destination being obtainable and the navigation apparatus predicting that the charging spot of the destination is not available, the navigation apparatus is configured to recommend executing the external charging at a charging spot within the predetermined distance of the planned travel route, and 
 wherein the operation information on the charging spot indicates a status of the charging spot. 
 
     
     
       2. The control apparatus for a vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein, based on a prediction that the charging spot of the destination is not usable, as the recommendation for executing the external charging at the charging spot within the predetermined distance of the planned travel route, the navigation apparatus is configured to report that external charging at the charging spot of the destination is not executable, and report a charging spot which is capable of executing the external charging among charging spots within the predetermined distance of the planned travel route. 
     
     
       3. The control apparatus for a vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein, based on the operation information on the charging spot of the destination not being obtainable, as the recommendation for executing the external charging at the charging spot within the predetermined distance of the planned travel route, the navigation apparatus is configured to report a charging spot within the predetermined distance of the planned travel route. 
     
     
       4. The control apparatus for a vehicle according to  claim 2 , wherein, based on a user instruction indicating that reporting the charging spot within the predetermined distance of the planned travel route is unnecessary, the electronic control unit is configured to limit an output of the power storage apparatus. 
     
     
       5. The control apparatus for a vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein the navigation apparatus is configured to predict whether the charging spot of the destination is available at a planned arrival time of the destination. 
     
     
       6. The control apparatus for a vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein, based on the vehicle arriving at a charging spot within the predetermined distance of the planned travel route, the navigation apparatus is configured to report a charging amount needed for reaching a nearest charging spot in a new trip after the vehicle has arrived at the destination. 
     
     
       7. An automobile comprising the control apparatus for a vehicle according to  claim 1 ; the motor; and the power storage apparatus. 
     
     
       8. A control apparatus for a vehicle, which is mounted on an automobile that has a motor for traveling and a power storage apparatus for exchanging electric power with the motor, comprising:
 an electronic control unit configured to execute external charging for charging the power storage apparatus by using electric power from an external power supply; and 
 a navigation apparatus configured to perform a route guidance of a planned travel route to a destination, 
 wherein, based on operation information on a charging spot of the destination not being obtainable by the control apparatus, the navigation apparatus is configured to recommend executing the external charging at a charging spot that is within a predetermined distance of the planned travel route, 
 wherein, based on the operating information on the charging spot of the destination being available, the navigation apparatus is configured to predict availability of the charging spot at a planned arrival time of the destination, 
 wherein the operation information on the charging spot indicates a status of the charging spot. 
 
     
     
       9. The control apparatus for a vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein the obtainability of operation information is based on whether the navigation apparatus is in communication with a server. 
     
     
       10. The control apparatus for a vehicle according to  claim 8 , wherein the obtainability of operation information is based on whether the navigation apparatus is in communication with a server. 
     
     
       11. The control apparatus for a vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein the operation information on the charging spot comprises at least one of business hours of the charging spot or information on whether the charging spot has a failure. 
     
     
       12. The control apparatus for a vehicle according to  claim 8 , wherein the operation information on the charging spot comprises at least one of business hours of the charging spot or information on whether the charging spot has a failure.